If you live in Hawaii, I have some bad news: as of this writing, Hawaii will not be having a sales tax holiday or tax free weekend in 2025. All back to school purchases during July and August will be subject to the normal combined state + local sales tax rate. Depending on location, the total sales tax is either 4.0% or 4.5%. Technically, Hawaii does not have a sales tax. Instead, they levy a General Excise Tax on the business. In nearly all cases, the store or restaurant will pass this tax on to the purchaser as if it were a sales tax.
If you happen to be traveling this summer, these 18 states WILL be holding sales tax holidays: Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire, and Oregon have no state sales tax.
In Minnesota and Pennsylvania, clothing and footwear are exempt.
Keep your fingers crossed and maybe (hopefully!) your legislators will enact a Hawaii sales tax holiday for 2025.